ICGEB SMART Fellowship Programme 2025
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) invites applications for the SMART Fellowship Programme 2025, designed to promote research mobility, skills enhancement, and scientific collaboration across ICGEB Member States. This prestigious fellowship provides early-career researchers the opportunity to work in internationally recognized laboratories, acquire hands-on training in advanced research techniques, and strengthen cooperation in science and technology.
The fellowship encourages mobility between laboratories located in different ICGEB Member States and focuses on building sustainable collaborations that contribute to both the professional growth of the candidate and the advancement of their home institution.
⏳ Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
About the Fellowship
The SMART Fellowship programme is aimed at supporting young scientists at the beginning of their research careers. Fellows can undertake short-term research projects (3–9 months) in specialized laboratories within ICGEB Member States, gaining access to advanced technologies and expertise not available in their home countries.
The programme provides:
- Bench fee allowance to support research-related consumables.
- Opportunities to develop new skills and enhance technical expertise.
- A platform to foster strong collaborative networks among laboratories in ICGEB Member States.
- Direct contributions to the research capacity building of the home country.
The fellowship covers consumables such as reagents, cell culture materials, PCR consumables, glassware, pipettes, and other laboratory essentials directly linked to the proposed project. However, it does not cover equipment purchases, travel costs, administrative expenses, or institutional overheads.
Eligibility Criteria
The fellowship is open to applicants meeting the following requirements:
- Nationality: Must be from an ICGEB Member State.
- Academic Qualification:
- Registered for a PhD, OR
- Obtained a PhD within the last 5 years, OR
- Hold an MSc or equivalent and actively working in a research institution.
- Research Focus: Applications are welcome from all areas of Life Sciences.
- Mobility Requirement:
- Research must be conducted in an ICGEB Member State other than the candidate’s home country.
- Age Limit: No strict age limit, but preference is given to early-career researchers.
Fellowship Duration and Benefits
- Duration: 3 to 9 months.
- Financial Support:
- Bench fee allowance for research consumables.
- Access to advanced research infrastructure and scientific mentorship.
- Key Benefits:
- Enhanced career development and technical training.
- Strengthened collaboration between host and home institutions.
- Contribution to the scientific growth of the candidate’s home country.
Application Process
Applicants are required to demonstrate strong collaboration between their home and host laboratories. The proposal must highlight the impact of the fellowship on the applicant’s career, the benefits to the home institution, and the suitability of the host laboratory.
Required Documents (to be uploaded in PDF format):
- Full CV of the applicant.
- Full CV of the Head of the Receiving Laboratory, including a complete list of publications.
- Valid Identification Document (passport/ID card, recommended validity: 12 months minimum).
How to Apply:
- Identify a host laboratory in an ICGEB Member State.
- Coordinate with both home and host supervisors to define the research project.
- Submit the complete application along with the required documents via the official ICGEB application portal.
Selection Process
- Selection is based on:
- Scientific excellence of the project.
- Quality of the applicant’s academic profile.
- Potential for sustainable collaboration and benefits to the home country.
Key Information at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Name | SMART Fellowships – ICGEB |
| Eligibility | Nationals of ICGEB Member States; PhD/MSc candidates or early-career researchers |
| Research Area | Life Sciences |
| Duration | 3–9 months |
| Benefits | Bench fee allowance, training, international collaboration |
| Application Deadline | 30 September 2025 |
| Application Mode | Online via ICGEB Fellowship Portal |
| Host Countries | ICGEB Member States (with limited exceptions for ICGEB labs in Italy, India, South Africa) |
Official Website
For detailed guidelines and online application submission, visit the official fellowship page:
🔗 ICGEB SMART Fellowships – Official Website
